Automatic dispatch and discharge system



May 5, 1936. E. T. BENNINGTON ,039,473

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M y 1936- E. T. BENNINGTON 2,039,473

AUTOMATIC DISPATCHAND DISCHARGE SYSTEM Filed Aug. 8, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet2 y 5, 1936- E. T. BENNINGTON 73 AUTOMATIC DISPATCH AND DISCHARGE SYSTEMFiled Aug. 8, 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 3me 75: 8. ufflwm' MWY'M M y 1936-E. "r. BENNINGTON AUTOMATIC DISPATCH AND DISCHARGE SYSTEM Filed Aug. 8,1931 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 WWW May 5, 1936. E. T. BENNINGTON 2,039,473

AUTOMATIC DISPATCH AND DISCHARGE SYSTEM Filed Aug. 8, 1931 7Sheets-Sheet 5 May 5, 1936. 1 BENNINGTON 1 039,473

AUTOMATIC DISPATCHAND DISCHARGE SYSTEM Filed Aug. 8; 1931 7 Sheets-Sheet6 I 'E rz vent 07$ fflmw fiu w'mww May '5, 1936. E. T. BENNINGTON2,039,473

AUTOMATIC DISPATCH AND DISCHARGE SYSTEM Filed Aug. 8, 1931 7Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC DISPATCHAND DISCHARGE SYSTEM Earl T. Bennington, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as-

signor to The Cleveland Crane & Engineering Company, Wicklifie, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Application August 8, 1931, Serial No. 555,978

21 Claims.

This invention relates to an article dispatch and delivery system and isparticularly adapted for use in connection with the automatic dispatchand selective delivery of bags of mail.

, An object of the present invention is to provide an article or maildispatch system which is capable of efliciently delivering bags of mailor similar articles to predeterminately selected locations or stationswith the chances for misdelivery substantially eliminated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a system of thecharacter referred to in which selective delivery of the bags of mail orsimilar articles at relatively high speeds and over long distances iseffected without the use of mechanical contacting parts thus eliminatingwear and reducing the upkeep to a minimum.

Another object of the present invention, in its more specific form, isto employ a photoelectric cell and a source of light to excite theformer for efiecting the discharge of the bags of mail or other similararticles at their proper preselected stations.

Another object of the present invention, in its more specific form, isto provide an overhead monorail system arranged along the variousstations to which the bags of mail or similar articles are to bedelivered and having traversing the same a plurality of independentself-propelled carriers with settable means upon the carriers adapted tobe actuated by means at the various stations to efi'ect a discharge ofthe bags of mail or other similar articles at the proper station and atthat station only.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automaticallyreducing the normal speed of the individual carriers as they pass aloading platform or around short curves with additional means under thecontrol of the operator upon the loading platform for stopping theindividual carriers when so desired.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means wherebythe circuit to the propelling motor of a succeeding carrier is broken orinterrupted upon accidental collision with a preceding carrier and tocause completion of the circuit upon movement of the preceding carrierin a forward direction.

With the objects above indicated and other objects hereinafter explainedin view the invention consists in the construction and combination ofelements hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of an article distributingsystem embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevational view of Figs. 1 and 2 showing therelative position of the carriers with respect to the receivingstations.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation showing thebumper and circuit breaker on each train of carriers.

Fig. 5 is a. front elevational view of the bumper shown in Fig. 4 withthe supporting rail or track in section.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the articlesupports or trays. v

Fig. '7 is a rear view of that shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken on line 8-8 ofFig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevational View of one of the stationselectors.

Fig. 10 is an end view of that shown in Fig. 9 having a portion brokenaway to show the pivotal connection.

Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the supporting trackor rail showing the relative position of one of the station lightsources.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of that shown in Fig.

Fig. 13 is an elevational view showing the relationship between astation light source and its associated photoelectric cell on a carrierfor discharging an article.

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of a portion of the system adjacent ameans for returning the article supports or trays to their normal sup- 5porting positions.

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of that shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is an end elevational view of that shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the controlmeans for the trains of carriers.

Fig. 18 is a schematic wiring diagram for the control means shown inFig. 1'7.

Fig. 19 is a schematic wiring diagram of the circuit for actuating thesolenoid trip mechanism by excitation of the photoelectric cell.

In the drawings the invention is illustrated in connection with a maildistributing system, but it is to be understood that the invention isnot to be limited thereto but may be employed in various manners withvarious apparatus wherein it is desired to automatically dispatch anddischarge articles at a predeterminately selected station. Varioussystems for accomplishing similar results have been heretofore devised,but in all such systems, so far as I am aware, they have had thedisadvantages of mechanical contacting parts which were subjected towear and which were not absolutely dependable. A system embodying thepresent invention is dependable, in the first place due to the fact thatthe parts are so arranged and cooperate in such a manner as to renderthe system foolproof, and in the second place, mechanical contact andconsequently wear and tear are eliminated with the result that it ispractically impossible for the system to get out of order.

In the distribution of mail it is absolutely important and necessarythat the bags of mail to be distributed be dispatched and discharged atthe proper station, otherwise the system could not be employed. It iscustomary in the distribution of bags of mail to have the mail carsspotted along the track and all bags of mail addressed to a certaindestination are deposited inthe proper car. The work of distributingbags of mail at the present time is accomplished by means of hand trucksand operators which involves considerable time and is a very inefiicientmethod. It is therefore one of the important features of the presentinvention to design a system and apparatus which will be automatic inits operation and absolutely dependable.

A concrete platform 20 of sufllcient width extends longitudinallybetween pairs of rails 2| upon which the mail cars 22 are adapted to runand along which they may be spotted or otherwise located. While in thedrawings only two mail cars 22 are illustrated it is to be understoodthat a train of such cars is customarily located along the tracks orrails 2| upon both sides of the platform 20. As a matter of fact thedesign contemplates the spotting or locating of thirteen mail cars alongthe platform 20 and each mail car 22 is customarily provided with a pairof door openings 23 located at substantially the opposite ends thereofthrough which the bags of mail are discharged. The tracks or rails 2|are supported upon a suitable foundation at a level low enough toposition the floors of the mail cars 22 in substantial alignment withthe upper surface of the platform 20. Mail chutes 24 having rollers 25are adapted to be moved along the platform 20 and are normallypositioned adjacent the door openings 23 so that the bags of mail may bedischarged along an extension 26 pivoted thereto and into the mail cars.When the mail cars 22 have been dispatched the chutes 24 may be moved toany convenient location upon the platform 20 for future use.

A monorail track 21 in the form of a continuous loop is supported byhanger rods 28 above the foundation 20 and extends longitudinallythereof past the door openings in the cars. A so-called crows nest orloading platform 29 is provided at a convenient location and it is to beunderstood that all' of the bags of mail are collected at this point fordistribution to the various stations. The monorail track is looped at 30at the end adjacent the crows nest for a purpose to be later describedand traversing the track preferably in one direction are a plurality oftrains of carriers 3| upon which the bags of mail are loaded when thetrains of carriers pass the crows nest or loading platform. Each ofthese trains of carriers 3| is provided with mail bag supporting membersor trays 32 more clearly shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, it beingpreferable to provide on each train of carriers a number of supportingmembers or trays 32 corresponding to the number of stations to which thebags of mail' are to be distributed. Each train of carriers is connectedto a motor propelled carrier 33 which preferably pulls the trains ofcarriers around the monorail track, the current therefor being obtainedby current collectors 34 mounted upon the carrier and which engage theconductor bars 35 extending upon opposite sides of the monorail track 21and coextensive therewith. The trains of carriers 3| as well as themotor carrier 33 are suspended by yokes which are provided with wheels36 adapted to engage the laterally extending flanges upon the oppositesides of the monorail track 21.

Upon each of the trains of carriers 3| there is mounted a plurality ofstation indicators 31, one being associated with each of the supportingmembers or trays 32 and being settable by the operator at the loadingplatform or crows nest 29 for discharging the bags of mail at thepredeterminately selected station for which the station indicator isset. The station indicators 31 include photoelectric cells which arereactive to light sources at the various stations but each beingreactive only to the light source at the selected station to which thebag or bags of mail upon the associated supporting member or tray 32 areto be discharged.

Light sources are located along the monorail track 21 one at eachstation or car door 23 and in Fig. 1 have been indicated as A-38, B-39,0-40 and D-4|. These lights are preferably arranged so as to distinguishone station from the other, the preferable manner of mounting being tovary the vertical positions of the light sources. When this verticaladjustment is once made it is not again necessary to change theirrelationships as the cars to receive bags of mail for the destinationindicated by the light source may if desired remain constant. It willfurther be noted in Fig. 1 that the light sources are disposed uponopposite sides of the monorail track 21 for a purpose to be laterdescribed and attention is directed to the fact that the trains ofcarriers 3| preferably continuously traverse the monorail track in thedirection indicated by the arrows.

The photoelectric cells of the station indicators 31 are adjustablevertically so as to be positioned in alignment with the light source atthe selected stations at which the bags of mail are to be distributedbut in spaced relation thereto and in order to simplify the constructionthe station indicators 31 are also pivotally adjustable about a verticalaxis for four positions which will be termed A, B, C and D, thesepositions being selected depending upon the location of the lightsources at the respective stations with respect to the monorail track 21and the position with respect to the train of carriers 3|.

It will therefore be clearly understood that as the trains of carriers3| are propelled along the monorail track 21 they at some time in theirtravel pass the loading platform or crows nest 29 and while so passingthe speed of the carriers is reduced so that the operators upon theloading platform or crows nest 29 will have suificient time to load thebags of mail onto the supporting members or trays 32 and at the sametime set F the station indicators 31 to correspond with the lightsources at the stations at which the bags of mail are to be discharged.For example, if a bag of mail is placed upon the first supporting memberor tray 32 upon the train of carriers 3| the selector indicator 3'!associated therewith is set for instance to correspond with the lightsource at-station A48. The photoelectric cell of the station indicator3! associated with the first supporting member or tray 32. of the trainof carriers 8| will not, as will be seen, be afl'ected by the lightsources at any other station by reason of the fact that the rays at theremaining stations are located in such a manner as to have no eilectupon the photoelectric cell associated with the station indicator 3! ofthe first supporting member or tray 32. It is impossible therefore todischarge a bag of mail at a wrong station because of the failure of thesystem or apparatus. The only time at which such a wrong discharge ofthe bag of mail would occur would be because of the wrong setting on thepart of the operator at the loading platform or crows nest 29.

It is to be understood of course that all of the station indicators 31on a particular train of carriers 3| may be loaded with bags of mail fordistribution to the same station in which event the station .indicatorswill all be set alike and again the station selectors 31 on a train ofcarriers it may be set for different stations if the bags of mail whichare loaded upon the sup-.

porting members or trays 32 are to be discharged at different stations.

It is quite important to understand however that when a station selector31 has been set by the operator to correspond with the light source at acertain station it is impossible to discharge such bag of mail at anyother station than the one for which it is set. If for any reason thebag of mail should not be discharged at the station for which thestation indicator 3'! is set, all that could happen would be that thebag of mail would be returned to the loading platform or crows nest 29when the train of carriers again reaches the latter and this conditionwould at once bring to the attention of the operator the fact that thelight source at the station was possibly slightly out of adjustment withrespect to the photoelectric cell of the station indicator 31.

After the bags of mail have been discharged at the various stations thetrays 32 are in inoperative position and a camming means 42 is locatedalong the monorail track and engages the trays 32 and returns the latterto their normally supporting position before the trays of carriers againpass the loading platform or crows nest 29.

It is also possible that there might be a collision between adjacenttrains of carriers 3| in view of the fact that the trains of carriersare individually motor driven and in order to avoid any damage underthis circumstance bumpers 43 are mounted upon the forward ends of thecarriers. These bumpers briefly consist of a pair of telescoping membersmounted in extended position by means of a spring and adapted when movedrelatively in an inward direction to actuate a limit switch which is incircuit with the motor on the associated train of carriers. Thisautomatically cuts off the current to the motor and stops the forwardmovement of the train of carriers. When the forward train of carriersmoves out of interference the telescoping members are extended by reasonof the spring and in their separation the limit switch 44 isautomatically actuated to close the circuit to the motor and thesucceeding carrier will again continue under its own motor power. Whilethe drawings illustrate the use of a bumper which operates, as prey 3viously explained, it is to be understood that other systems may beemployed for preventing adjacent carriers from colliding such as the useof a. photoelectric cell and a source of light mounted upon adjacentcarriers to interrupt the circuit of the following carrier when thefollowing carrier gets within a predetermined distance of the forwardcarrier.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8, one of the supporting members is shown in detailand on an enlarged scale. The train of carriers is of course made up ofa plurality of these bag supporting mem--. bers which are suspended fromthe overhead monorail track 21 by longitudinally spaced yokes 45 one ofwhich is herein shown, it being understood that it is preferable toprovide one of these yokes 45 between each supporting member or tray.Extending between each pair of yokes 46 is a load bar 46 of typicalconstruction which is provided at one end with a-pair of spaced ears 41and at the opposite end with an extension 48 adapted to be normallyinterposed between the spaced ears 41 as clearly shown in Fig. 7,The'members 41 and 48 are provided with aligned openings to receive abushing 49 shown more clearly in Fig. 10 which is constructed to permitpivotal movement between the load bars 46 of adjacent supporting membersor trays so as to aflord unrestricted movement around sharp curves. Theload bar 46 consists of a pair of longitudinally extending channelswhich are spaced apart as shown in Fig. 6 and adjacent the opposite endsa pair of spaced plates 49 are welded or otherwise secured thereto. Thesupporting member consists of a pair of uprights 50 spaced a suiiicientdistance apart and preterably in the form of pipe or round rods. Theupper ends are disposed between the plates 49 and are pivoted to thelatter by means of pins to thereby permit of a certain amount of lateralmovement for a purpose which will be later described. The lower ends ofthe uprights 50 are held in spaced relation by a spacer pipe or rod 52which has secured to its opposite ends flanged members 53 which arebolted at 54 to the lower ends of the uprights 56. A mail bag supportingtray 55 of any desired size is positioned adjacent the lower portions ofthe uprights 50 as shown in Fig. 6 and is pivotally mounted upon thespacer 52 by means of collars 56 which are welded or otherwise securedto the rear portion of the tray 55 and encircle the spacer pipe or rod52. Adjacent the middle portion of the tray 55 and at its.rear is weldeda member 51 which like the sleeves 56 has an opening to receive thespacer pipe or rod 52 and to be freely movable thereabout. This member51 has a rearward extension 58 which cooperates with a roller 59 fixedto one end of a bell-crank lever or latch 60 which is suitably pivotedat 6! within an enclosure or housing 62. The opposite end of thebell-crank lever or latch 60 extends rearwardly and lies normally abovea head 63 fixed to the lower end of an armature 64 which is part of a.solenoid 65. A spring 66 is connected to the housing 62 and to the freeend of the bell-crank lever 60 to normally hold the armature 64 in itslowermost position so that the roller 59 is always in position forengagement by the extension 58. The housing 62 is welded or otherwisesecured to a transversely extending angle 61 having its ends welded orotherwise suitably secured to the upright members 50 as shown in Fig. 7.Bag supporting members 68 in the form of strap irons have their endssecured to the upright members 58 and are bowed in such a manner as toreceive the bag of mail. The upright members 58 extend at an angleupwardly as shown in Fig. 6 so as to position the load or weight of thebag of mail as nearly as possible under the load bar.

It will therefore be seen that the tray 55 is normally maintained in bagsupporting position by means of the bell-crank lever or latch 88 andthat when it is desired to discharge the bag of mail at the properstation the solenoid 85 is energized which raises the armature 84causing the bell-crank lever or latch 88 to pivot at 8! which disengagesthe roller 58 from the extension 58 with the result that the bag of mailis discharged. When the solenoid 85 is deenergized the spring 88 returnsthe bell-crank lever or latch 88 to its normal position and by raisingthe tray 55 from the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 tothat indicated in full lines the extension 58 is brought into engagementwith the roller 58 and the tray is then in its bag supporting position.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10 there is shown on an enlarged scale thedetails of construction of the station selector 81. These stationselectors are suspended from and supported by the yokes 45 and consistof a vertically extending rod 88 which at its upper end is reduced andextends through a longitudinally extending opening 10 on the bushing 49as clearly shown in Fig. 10, A plate H is provided with a centralopening and the portion of the metal therearound is bent downwardly toform a flange 12 which seats itself in a counterbore in the upper end ofthe bushing 41. The upper end of the rod 88 is screw-threaded andreceives a nut 18 thereon which is screwed down into engagement with theplate ll. At the lower end of the yoke 45 there is a U-shaped member 14preferably made of strap iron which has its free ends bolted at 14' orotherwise secured to the sides of the yoke 45 as clearly shown in Fig.9. This U-shaped strap is provided with a central opening through whichthe rod 88 extends and secured to its upper surface is a plate 15provided in its upper surface with a plurality of radially extendinggrooves 18 preferably spaced 90 apart. The rod 88 has a laterallyextending pin 'I'l which is adapted to cooperate with the grooves 18.Below the yoke and secured to the rod 89 are a pair of spaced collars 18which have lateral extensions 18 and to which is secured by means ofrivets 88, or otherwise, an indicator plate 8!. This plate in thepresent instance is provided with transversely extending slots 82, therebeing thirteen in number and which are relatively small in depth butrather wide. The purpose of these slots is to permit the light rays toenter, but are spaced a suflicient distance apart so that the light raysintended for a certain slot cannot project through another slot. A coilspring 83 encircles the rod 88 and is disposed between the upper collarI8 and the underside of the U-shaped strap 14 the purpose being tomaintain the pin I'I in one of the grooves 18 against accidentaldisplacement. A hand wheel 84 is secured to the lower end of the rod 88and is provided for the purpose of rotating the rod 88 so as to push thepin 11 in the desired groove 18. It will be also noted that when thisrod 88 is turned so as to push the rod 11 in the desired groove 18 theplate 8| is likewise rotated and secured in any one of the fourpositions. This arrangement therefore enables the operator to set thestation selector to correspond to any one' of fifty-two stations byreason of the fact that the plate 80 can be locked in any one of fourpositions and there are thirteen slots indicating thirteen positions foreach position of the pin 11 in thegroove 18. A housing 88 is secured toa sleeve 88 which is slidably mounted upon the rod 88 and is furtherprovided with a handle 81 for moving the sleeve 88 along the rod 88. Aphotoelectric cell 88 is supported within the housing 85 and the latteris provided with an elongated enclosure 88 between the photoelectriccell 88 and the back of the plate 8| in alignment with the slots 82. Thefront of the rod 88 is provided with a plurality of depressions 88 whichare in alignment with the slots 82 in the plate 8| and the sleeve 88 hasmounted therein a spring pressed ball or plunger 8| which is adapted toengage with the depressions 88 so as to retain the elongated enclosure88 immediately behind the selected slot. It will therefore be seen thata source of light shining through one of the slots 82 behind which thephotoelectric cell is located will cause the photoelectric cell throughthe proper electrical circuit to energize the solenoid 85 which tripsthe tray 55 of the supporting members.

In Figs. 11, 12 and 13 there is shown on an enlarged scale thesupporting mechanism for the light sources at the different stations andin Fig. 13 particularly the relationship between a light source and thephotoelectric cell of the station indicator is shown. The overheadmonorail track 21 has secured thereto a laterally extending arm 82 andsecured to the free end thereof is a depending channel member 88 whichis reenforced by means of a strap 84 secured to the support 83 and themember 82. This support 98 has a longitudinally extending slot 85 in theflange of the channel to adjustably receive a casing 88 within which ismounted a light source. This casing may be adjusted vertically withinthe extremities of the slot 95 and locked in any desired position bymeans of a nut 81 the position of which indicates a certainpredetermined station with respect to a certain setting of the stationindicator. One of these adjustable light sources is mounted at everystation and is preferably adjusted so as to distinguish one station fromanother. In Fig. 13 the light source 88 is shown after having beenpreviously adjusted to correspond with the setting of the stationindicator and it will be seen that the rays 88 are projected in a flatstream thru space which will enter the slot 82 immediately in front ofthe elongated enclosure 89 and through which the light rays pass intocontact with the photoelectric cell 88 which due to the light raysenergizes the solenoid through a suitable circuit and trips the latchingmechanism of the bag supporting tray with the result that the bag isdischarged at the predeterminately selected station.

In the event that the car doors should not be located along the monorailtrack in the exact locations at different times, provision is made toaccommodate for this variation in the location of the cars or car doors.The source of light 88 may be adjusted longitudinally of the monorailtrack 21 so as to position this source of light in the proper positionand such adjustment is accomplished by providing a pair of blocks 98welded or otherwise secured to the outer end of the laterally extendingarm 82. One block 88 is positioned adjacent the inner edge of the flangeof the monorail track 21, while the other block is placed adjacent theouter edge of the flange.

The inner block carries a clamp I00, which projects through a suitableopening in the web of the member 92, and engages the flange oi the.monorail 21 in rigid relationship. An adjustable clamp IOI engages theopposite side of the flange of the monorail 21 and is maintained inrigid relation therewith by means of a hand wheel I02, which is securedto the end of a rod I03, which passes through an opening in theupstanding leg I M and an aligned opening in the outer block 99, theinner end of the rod I03 being screw-threaded and engageable with aninteriorly screw-threaded opening provided in the inner block 99.Rotation of the hand wheel I02 in one direction forces the clamp IOIinto rigid engagement with the flange of the monorail track 21, whilerotation in the opposite direction releases the clamp IOI and therebypermits adjustment longitudinally along the monorail track 21 of thelaterally extending arm 92.

In Figs. 14, 15 and 16, there is shown on an enlarged scale the detailsof the camming mechanism 42 for returning the supporting members ortrays to their normal bag supporting positions after the bags of mailhave been discharged at the desired selected station. Thismechanism issupported by the overhead monorail. track 21 and comprises a pluralityof laterally extending angles I 04, which have their inner ends securedas by welding to the top surface of the flange of the monorail track 21,and are spaced apart longitudinally any desired distance. At the outerends of these angles I04 upright angles I05 are provided which havetheir upper ends secured to the outer ends of the angles I04 by weldingor other suitable means. Gusset plates I06 are preferably provided tosuitably reinforce the structure at both the upper ends of the uprightangles I05 and at the lower ends. The upright angles I05 extenddownwardly a suitable distance and have their lower ends connected bymeans of a longitudinally extending angle I01 which is preferablysecured by means of welding. A back plate guide I08, in the form of apipe or round rod, is secured to the upright angles I05 and extendslongitudinally in the direction of travel of the carrier and supportingtrays. This guide is positioned at such a height as to engage a portionof the supporting members, such as the solenoid housing 62, to preventswinging of the supporting member while the tray is being returned toits normal bag supporting position. This guide I08 has its rear endpositioned upon the inner side of the monorail 21 and extends forwardlyat an incline to approximately the mid portion of the apparatus where itcontinues to extend in substantial parallelism with the monorail track21. It is the longitudinally extending portion of the guide I 08 whichengages the solenoid housing 62 of the supporting member and tends toprevent swinging of the same during the closing operation.

A tray raising bar or pipe I09 is likewise supported from the uprightangles I 05 and extends, in a similar direction, to the guide I 08. Thistray raising pipe I09, however, has its rear end at a substantiallylower elevation than the guide I08, as clearly indicated in Figs. 14 and16, and extends forwardly at an incline until the forward end is atsubstantially the same elevation as the forward end of the guide I08.This raising pipe is so arranged as to engage with the tray 55 after ithas discharged its load and, due to the travel of the carrier, the trayis caused to move along the tray raising pipe I09 assuming the positionsindicated in dotted lines in the drawings until it reaches the positionindicated in full lines, in which event the latch 01 the solenoid devicehas operated to rigidly maintain fire tray 55 in its normal articlesupporting posi- In Figs. 17 and 18 there is disclosed the manuallyoperated switch mechanism located in the crows nest or loading station29 for the purpose of permitting the operator to reduce the speed of thetraveling carrier sufficiently to enable him to set the stationindicator for the desired station to which the article is to bedischarged. This consists of a depressible foot bar IIO which ismaintained in normally raised or elevated position by means of springs III at the opposite ends of the bar. The bar is guided in its movement bymeans of pins II2 secured to the ends of the bar and adapted to passthrough suitable openings in a portion of the platform or floor II3. Apair of normally opened switches I I4 are secured to a portion of thefloor I I3 and are connected with the foot bar IIO so that depressingthe foot bar II will cause the switches to be closed to thereby reducethe speed of the carriers at this particular point or to stop thecarriers when desirable.

A wiring diagram is shown in Fig. 18 illustrative of the manner in whichthe switches I I4 are connected into the circuit and the main line wiresare indicated by L-I and L-2. A switch H is manually operable to closethe circuit to the main line. The high voltage lines 35, which indicatethe conductor bars, are connected to the low voltage lines 30 by meansof line insulators I I 6. The high voltage lines are connectedrespectively by lines H1 and H8 with terminals associated with themanually operable switch II5 connected with the main lines. The line H8is connected by a line II9 with one side of the normally open switchesII4, while the other side of the normally closed switches H4 isconnected by a line I20 to one side of the low voltage line 30. The lineII 1 is connected by line I2I to one side of a resistance I22, while theopposite side of the resistance is connected to the other low voltageline 30. It will, therefore, be seen that, when the switches II4 arenormally open, the current from the main line is being fed directly tothe high voltage lines 35 and through the line insulators to the lowvoltage lines 30 which reduces the speed of the carrier, as alreadyexplained heretofore. If, however, the operator is desirous to stillfurther reduce the speed of the carrier, or bring the carrier to a stop,depressing the foot bar IIO will cause the switches ill to be closed,with the result that the resistance I22 is introduced into the circuitof the low voltage lines 30, further reducing the voltage of the carriermotor and consequently reducing the speed of the carrier.

In Fig. 19 there is illustrated a diagrammatic wiring diagram of thecircuit employed for operating the solenoid from the photoelectric cell.It is essential that the current produced, as a result of exciting thephotoelectric cell, be amplified in order to efliciently operate thesolenoid tripping mechanism for the trays but, inasmuch as this is acommon amplification system employed in a circuit of this character,further description is believed to be unnecessary.

While I have described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it isunderstood that I am not to be limited thereto but changes andmodifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe. invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an article distributing system, a plurality of stations to whicharticles are to be distributed, means for conveying said articles tosaid stations, light sources at said stations, and means on saidconveying means reactive to said light sources for discharging saidarticles at said stations.

2. In an article distributing system, a plurality of stations to whicharticles are to be distributed, means for conveying said articles tosaid stations, light sources at said stations. and settable means onsaid conveying means reactive to said light sources for discharging saidarticles at said stations.

3. In an article distributing system, a plurality of stations to whicharticles are to be distributed, means for conveying said articles tosaid stations, light sources at said stations, and settable means onsaid conveying means predeterminately arranged to correspond with saidlight sources at said stations and reactive to said light sources fordischarging said articles at said stations.

4. In an article distributing system, a plurality of stations to whicharticles are to be distributed, means for conveying said articles tosaid stations, light sources at said stations so arranged as todistinguish one station from another, and station selector means on saidconveying means predeterminately settable to correspond to any one 01'said light sources at said stations and reactive to said light sourcesfor discharging only said articles at the station selected.

5. In an article distributing system, a plurality oi stations to whicharticles are to be distributed, means for conveying said articlesindividually to said stations, light sources at said stations soarranged as to distinguish one station from another, and individualstation selector means associated with said articles andpredeterminately settable to correspond to any one of said lightsources, said means being reactive to said light source for which it isset for discharging articles only at the station selected.

6. In an article distributing system, a plurality of stations to whicharticles are to be distributed, means for supporting and conveyingarticles to said stations, light sources at the respective stations soarranged as to distinguish one station from another, and stationselector means on said conveying means predeterminately settable tocorrespond with the station to which an article is to be dispatched andreactive to the light source at that station for discharging saidarticle.

7. In an article distributing system, a plurality of stations to whicharticles are to be distributed, conveying means extending past saidstations, means on said conveying means for supporting independentlyarticles to be distributed at different stations, light sources at saidstations so arranged as to distinguish one station from another, andstation selector means individual to each article on said conveyingmeans and predeterminately settable to correspond with the light sourceat the selected station, said means being reactive to said light sourceonly at the selected station for discharging said article.

8. In an article distributing system, a station to which an article isto be distributed, means for conveying the article to said station, alight source at said station, and means on said conveying means reactiveto said light source for discharging said article at said station.

9. In an article distributing system, a way, 9,

plurality of stations along said way, conveying means traversing saidway past said stations, article supporting means on said conveyingmeans, light sources at said stations, and station selector means onsaid conveying means associated with said articles, said means beingreactive to said light sources for discharging said articles at saidstations.

10. In an article distributing system, a way, a plurality of stationsalong said way, conveying means traversing said way past said stations,a plurality of article supporting means, light sources at said stations,and station selector means individual to said article supporting meansand reactive to said light sources for discharging said articles at saidstations.

11. In an article distributing system, a way, a plurality of stationsalong said way, conveying means traversing said way past said stations,a plurality of article supporting means on said conveying means, lightsources at said stations so arranged as to distinguish one station fromanother, and station selector means for said article supporting meansand settable to correspond with a selected light source at one of saidstations, said means being reactive to said light source for dischargingsaid articles to said selected stations.

12. In an article distributing system, a way, a plurality of stationsalong said way, conveying means traversing said way past said stations,a plurality of article supporting means on said conveying means, lightsources at said stations so arranged as to distinguish one station fromanother, and station selector members individual to said articlesupporting means and settable to correspond with a selected light sourceat one or said stations, said members being reactive to said selectedlight sources for discharging said articles only at the selectedstations.

13. In a material handling apparatus, a continuous track extending alonga predetermined path, a plurality of stations located along said track,light sources one of which is located at each station, a carrier movablealong said track past said stations, an article supporting member onsaid carrier, and a station selector means associated with said articlesupporting member and settable to correspond with any one of said lightsources at said stations, said means being reactive to said selectedlight sources for discharging said article at said station.

14. In a material handling apparatus, a continuous track extending alonga predetermined path, a plurality of stations located along said track,light sources one of which is located at each station, a carrier movablealong said track past said stations, article supporting members on saidcarrier, and station selector members associated with said articlesupporting members and settable to correspond with any selected lightsource at any station, said members being reactive only to the selectedlight source for discharging articles at said stations.

' 15. In a material handling apparatus, a continuous track extendingalong a predetermined path, a plurality of stations located along saidtrack, light sources, one of which is located at each station and soarranged as to distinguish one station from another, a carrier movablealong said track past said stations, article supporting members on saidcarrier, and station selector members on said carrier associated withsaid article supporting members and settable to correspond with anyselected light source at any station, said members being reactive onlyto the selected light source for discharging articles at said selectedstation.

16. In a material handling apparatus, a continuous overhead track, aplurality of stations located along said track, light sources, one orwhich is located at each station and so arranged as to distinguish onestation from another, a carrier movable along said track, articlesupporting members suspended from said carrier and adapted to dischargesaid articles, station selector members on said carrier associated withsaid article supporting members and settable to correspond with anyselected light source at any station, said members being reactive onlyto the selected light source for actuating the associated supportingmember to discharge said article at one of said stations, and means forreturning said article supporting members to operative position.

17. In an article distributing system, a plurality of stations to whicharticles are to be distributed, means for conveying said articles tosaid stations, energy converting means located at said stations andadapted to transmit energy thru space, and energy receiving meanslocated upon said conveying means in predeterminately spaced relationwith respect to said energy converting means and reactive to saidtransmitted energy for discharging said articles at said stations.

18. In an article distributing system, a continuous trackway, stationslocated along said trackway, article conveying means traversing saidtrackway past said stations, energy converting means located at saidstations and adapted to transmit energy thru space, and energy receivingous overhead trackway, article receiving stations located along saidtrackway, a plurality 01' carriers independently propelled along saidtrackway past said stations, article supporting members suspended iromthe respective carriers, sources of energy converting means, one 01which is located at each station and adapted to transmit energy thruspace, and a plurality of energy receiving means, one of which isassociated with each article supporting member upon said carriers andpredeterminately settable in spaced relation with respect to said energyconverting means at any selected station, said means being reactive tosaid transmitted energy for actuating said article supporting members todischarge said articles at the stations selected.

21. In an article distributing system, a continuous overhead trackway,article receiving stations located along said trackway, a plurality ofcarriers independently propelled along said trackway past said stations,article supporting members suspended from the respective carriers,sources 01' energy converting means adapted to transmit energy thruspace, one of which is located at each station and adjustable todistinguish one station from'another, and a plurality of energyreceiving means, one of which is associated with each article supportingmember upon said carriers and predeterminately settable in spacedrelation with respect to said energy converting means at any selectedstation, said means being reactive to said transmitted energy foractuating said article supporting members to discharge said articles atthe stations selected. I

EARL '1. BENNING'ION.

